Seventeen of my relatives joined me on my trip to Costa Rica.

The word "pura vida" means "simple life" or "pure life" in Spanish and is used all around Costa Rica. Anyone who has been there has probably heard it. But as anyone who has attempted to organize a vacation for over twenty people can attest, there is never anything straightforward about it. 

About seventeen of my closest relatives got together for supper in November of last year and decided that another family vacation was in need. This would be our first family vacation together since my grandparents passed away; we have members ranging in age from three to sixty, and we live all over the place, from New York to Pennsylvania to Colorado. 

Although planning a vacation for such a large group may seem like an insurmountable task, we pulled it off with the aid of our friends and family. Some of the things that assisted us along the road are these. 

Having a single person to turn to for major decisions was crucial, particularly when we were just starting to plan. Uncle Frank was that to us. After hearing about everyone's wants and requirements in the family, he used that information to his advantage. There were a maximum of twelve individuals attempting to coordinate and communicate in this manner. 

Before you go, be sure you've laid out even the most fundamental ground rules. In our situation, that meant making sure everyone was on the same page regarding the timetable before we took off, because we were joining three pretty dispersed families. When leading a large group like ours, effective communication is crucial to a trip's success. 

The simplest tactics can frequently turn out to be the most effective. One thing that helped us fly through the airport was making sure everyone in the group has TSA PreCheck. That is an invaluable resource while traveling with a group of almost twenty individuals. 

If you don't want to risk your life for the in-flight earbuds, bring an AirFly Pro and some high-quality, noise-cancelling headphones. If you put those on with an eye mask, the sound from your four rows of relatives sitting behind you will go away—at least for a little while, until the snack cart arrives. 

The success of our journey also depended on our ability to ask for assistance when we needed it. It was crucial to use a travel agency and to receive assistance from the wonderful people working at Dreams Las Mareas. A large enough bus to accommodate our entire family together with eighteen carry-ons and twenty-one pieces of checked baggage was arranged by Fort Hill Travel, who also handled the booking of our lodging and airfare. 

Our travel agent was able to offer several affordable alternatives for destinations, hotels, and plane tickets after my uncle, who was acting as our point person, relayed the details of our trip to them. With Dreams Las Mareas and Costa Rica as our backdrop, we knew this vacation would be one for the record books. 

An all-inclusive resort was an essential part of our vacation. In addition to helping with everyone's budgets, it also made sure that everyone got the most out of their vacation. The all-inclusive resort took the worry out of mundane tasks like planning dinner for eighteen people by included food and drink in the room rate. It also helped that there were infinite passion fruit mojitos. 

Activities abound at Dreams, including culinary lessons, kayaking at sunset, and morning and sunset treks. In addition, the grownups had a blast on the waterslide, which the three-year-old loved as much as everybody else. I would suggest contacting a member of the resort staff to inquire about the optimal and least optimal dining hours for a group of your size. Due to the large number of people in our party, it was informed that any time beyond 7 o'clock would be challenging to accommodate. We were able to savor each meal together because of those brief chats. 

On a family vacation, it's important to remember that everyone has their own unique way of enjoying themselves. We were able to meet each other's wants and preferences while still enjoying family time because we knew when to separate and when to stay together. There was a day when fourteen of us rode horses, zip lined, soaked in hot springs, hiked to waterfalls, and visited Buena Vista del Rincón. After the other four members of our group enjoyed a day of poolside relaxation at the resort, we all got together for supper. Even so, we sprang into a particularly heated game of Monkey in the Middle and spent the majority of our time laughing and relaxing by the pool. Getting up early to secure a space by the pool may seem like a holiday faux pas, but if you're traveling with a big party, it's helpful to ask a few resort personnel to help you set up your lounge chairs so everyone can stay close. 

You will find yourself taking pictures of the family if you are anything like me. If you're an iPhone user looking for a way to relax, I suggest setting up a group chat and using a shared family photo drive. Sharing vacation images before, during, and after a trip has never been easier. Also, there are 55 pictures of the cute capuchin monkeys that swarmed the resort's terraces, and you can discover them all there. Incredible sunsets in Costa Rica, three full-family shots that aren't so great, and a photo of my three-year-old sister eating corn on the cob for breakfast are all in our shared album. 

Finally, remember that no matter how big your family is, you should always make time for yourself while traveling. In order to recharge and enjoy the remainder of your trip with your family, it is essential to carve out some relaxing self-care time. This can be in the form of a spa treatment, some quiet time with a good book, or even a nap by the pool (or terrace hot tub or swim-up pool, if you have preferred status at Dreams). Feel free to shut the door to the adjacent room if you need to. 

In the end, enjoying the small moments is the key to a successful family vacation. Little, sometimes silent (or, if you're my family, boisterous) moments are when the magic happens. It perfectly simplifies the ordeal of trying to cram forty pieces of luggage, eighteen people (including a toddler), and a single van onto a twisting, muddy route. Doing this will leave you with nothing but positive emotions. Gratitude for the uniqueness of the past few days. With each watermelon mimosa you sipped, you'll remember how much better they tasted when shared with someone special. 

One more thing: first thing in the morning when you get home, make sure to check in on your family group chat. You could all use some positive reinforcement and maybe even plot a sequel family vacation. Our next move is to consider booking a flight to Thailand for twenty individuals.